Dog Walks 20 Blocks to Find Her Owner at the Hospital

They say dogs have a special intuition when it comes to how their owners are feeling. One brave Schnauzer, Sissy, takes it to a whole new level. She could tell that her mommy, Nancy Franck, was scared about her operation and she wasn't about to let 20 blocks and hospital security stand in her way.

A true canine connection

Sissy, who's 10 years old, walked from the Franck's home to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,

. She left the house when Nancy's husband, Dale, let Sissy and their other dog out for a late-night bathroom break. But this wasn't just a runaway to explore the neighborhood. Sissy was on a mission.Four hours after Dale lost Sissy, he got a call from hospital security that Sissy had been wandering around the facility's hallways, presumably looking for Nancy, who was recovering at

from a cancer-related surgery.The security officer must have respected Sissy's journey, because when the Franck's daughter, Sarah Wood, came down to retrieve Sissy from the officer, he let her visit Nancy. Sissy's mission was a success, as she was able to spend a few minutes with her mom and cheer her up. Nancy was suspicious when she first saw the dog, be she said it made a big impact."I said, 'Did you sneak this dog in?' Sarah said, 'No, (Sissy) snuck herself in,'" Nancy told KWWL. "Set the door off - she got in by herself too. So she was on a mission ... [It was] a big boost - it helped a lot, just to see her and talk to her."The Francks say that Sissy has never run away from the house before.

Managing canine cancer pain

Sissy and Nancy's tale is heartwarming because Sissy came to help her pet parent when she was in need by showing her a little love. Sometimes the situations are reversed, however. But if your pooch has

, you can repay the favor and help them feel more comfortable as they fight this disease.Canine cancer often can't be prevented and doesn't yet have a cure. The best way to treat canine cancer is with medications like

,

, or

, or other treatments such as surgery, immunotherapy, or radiation. While these treatments may help your pooch live longer and have a better quality of life, they may also cause pain and other side effects.Much like how Sissy visited Nancy in the hospital to show her love, you can show your dog you love them by helping manage the pain related to canine cancer. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to treat pain directly as well as swelling that can create secondary discomfort in joints. Your veterinarian can also prescribe certain weak or strong opioids to help reduce mild or severe pain. These affect the way your pooch's brain perceives pain.Nonmedicinal treatment options like palliative radiation and surgery can go a long way in reducing discomfort as well, by eliminating the source of the pain.

You can use your PetPlus membership to save on prescription cancer medication and pain killers, showing your pooch you love them without breaking the bank.